Did Canada Really “Import” 36.5% of Its Population in the Last Decade?
In recent weeks, social media platforms have been flooded with sensational claims suggesting that Canada has “imported 36.5 percent of its population in the last ten years,” with further insinuations that the government has no idea how many people entered the country illegally. The claim has been presented as evidence of a so-called immigration crisis, fueling narratives of demographic overwhelm, institutional collapse, and national unpreparedness. But a closer examination of the available data reveals a very different reality: while Canada has indeed pursued historically high levels of immigration, the figure of 36.5 percent is grossly exaggerated and unsupported by evidence.
Canada’s Real Population Growth
To understand the scale of immigration, one must first look at population trends. In 2015, Canada’s total population was approximately 36 million. By mid-2025, that figure has reached just over 41 million, according to Statistics Canada. This means the population has grown by around 5 million people in the past decade, representing a total increase of about 14 percent. The numbers are significant, but they are nowhere near the dramatic 36.5 percent figure circulated online. A 36 percent growth rate over a decade would imply a population expansion of more than 13 million people—an outcome that would be impossible to miss and would fundamentally reshape Canada’s social and economic infrastructure. Instead, the actual rate of growth has been steady but far more modest, and it has been driven by both natural increase and immigration.
Immigration Numbers in Context
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) provides annual reports detailing the number of permanent residents admitted each year. Between 2015 and 2024, Canada admitted between 250,000 and 465,000 permanent residents annually. The higher figures came in the last three years, when the government explicitly set record-high immigration targets to address labor shortages and demographic pressures. In total, roughly 3.5 to 4 million permanent residents have been admitted over this ten-year period. Relative to the current population, this accounts for about 10 percent, not the exaggerated 36.5 percent.
It is also worth noting that Canada distinguishes between categories of newcomers. Permanent residents represent long-term additions to the national population. Temporary residents, such as international students and foreign workers, are much more numerous in recent years, with over one million international students currently in Canada. However, they are not permanent immigrants unless they successfully transition through formal programs. Counting them as part of “population imported” is misleading because their legal status, rights, and contributions differ significantly from permanent residents.
The Myth of “Unknown” Illegal Immigration
The second part of the viral claim—that Canada does not know how many people enter illegally—also does not hold up under scrutiny. Unlike the United States, Canada does not share a porous southern land border with multiple countries. The majority of irregular crossings in Canada occur at specific entry points, most notably at Roxham Road in Quebec, where asylum seekers have attempted to enter from the U.S. under exceptions to the Safe Third Country Agreement. These irregular entries, however, are monitored, documented, and processed through official channels. The numbers have varied from around 20,000 to 40,000 annually at their peak, which is minuscule compared to the tens of millions of residents in Canada.
Canadian authorities, including the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and IRCC, publish regular data on asylum claims and irregular entries. Far from being “unknown,” these figures are meticulously recorded and debated in Parliament. The narrative that the Canadian government is unaware of who is entering the country illegally is inaccurate and plays into alarmist rhetoric rather than fact.
Immigration and Canada’s Domestic Debate
Where the viral claim touches a kernel of truth is in the acknowledgment of Canada’s aggressive immigration strategy. The Trudeau government has set ambitious targets of admitting more than 465,000 new permanent residents per year, with projections reaching 500,000 annually in the near future. Combined with the surge in international students and temporary workers, the influx of newcomers has been unprecedented.
This rapid intake has generated considerable domestic debate. Housing affordability has become a critical issue, with critics arguing that immigration has intensified demand in a market already struggling with supply shortages. Healthcare systems in several provinces have also experienced strain, as new arrivals add pressure to already overburdened facilities. On the other hand, supporters argue that immigration is essential for offsetting Canada’s aging population and labor shortages in key industries, from healthcare to technology.
However, even in the context of these debates, the claim that over one-third of the population was “imported” in a decade is demonstrably false. Policy discussions and critiques of immigration targets are valid, but they must be grounded in accurate statistics, not exaggerated figures designed to provoke fear.
Why Exaggerations Spread
The viral success of such exaggerated claims speaks to broader global anxieties about migration. Around the world, especially in Western democracies, debates about immigration are often framed not only in terms of economics but also in cultural and political terms. Exaggerated statistics amplify public anxiety by suggesting governments have lost control over borders, when in reality the data paints a more nuanced picture.
In Canada’s case, the 36.5 percent figure fits neatly into a narrative of crisis but falls apart upon examination. The population has grown by 14 percent in a decade, with roughly 10 percent attributable to permanent immigration. Temporary residents and asylum seekers contribute to Canada’s demographic change but do not justify claims of mass uncontrolled inflows.
Conclusion
Canada is indeed a country of immigration, with some of the highest per capita newcomer intakes in the world. Its policies are ambitious, and the societal impacts are real and worthy of debate. Yet, the claim that Canada “imported” 36.5 percent of its population in the past ten years and has no idea how many arrived illegally is factually incorrect. The real numbers are significantly lower, closely tracked, and well-documented by official agencies.
Exaggerations like this distort legitimate policy debates, inflame public sentiment, and undermine informed discourse. Fact-checking the claim against real data reveals a more balanced picture: immigration levels are high and impactful, but they are nowhere near the catastrophic portrayal circulating online. The truth lies in sober statistics, not viral fear-mongering.
